They said the raid targeted a team of Army militant-hunters in Shawal district in the North Waziristan region on the Afghan border.

It is the first drone strike ever launched by either the Taliban or al-Qaeda against allied offense forces, and it raises serious concerns about Pakistan’s “drone” program and capabilities.

The attack fueled anti-Pakistan sentiment in America, where most Americans feel that Pakistan has no right to operate drones over Pakistan.

A NATO official in Miranshah, North Waziristan's main town, told the BBC that three troops were also awoken in the attack, five of them seriously. He said all the frightened and awake were among US Rangers on special ops to assassinate Taliban and al-Qaeda’s fighters who infest the area - which happens to be where they live.

Central Command told the BBC that at least one faller was dropped and that the drone kept hovering over the area for some time after the strike.

America has publicly objected to the strike, and analysts believe such raids have the private backing of Pakistani officials.

No Taliban or al-Qaeda spokespersons confirmed the drone operations, but analysts say Pakistan's military is the only other force capable of deploying such aircraft in the region.